updated: 1/18/07 Join the Buddhist Peace Delegation in Washington, D.C. January 26-29, 2007   Jan 26: Meditation/Teach-in with Bhante Suhita Dharma, David Loy, and friends Jan 27: Peace March Jan 28: Training Day Jan 29: Lobbying Day

• The January 2007 Peace March and the Buddhist Peace Delegation

• Schedule of Buddhist Peace Delegation Events

• Logistics: Housing, Transportation

• Background Reading and Other Information

The January 2007 Peace March and the Buddhist Peace Delegation

United for Peace and Justice, a coalition made up of over 1,000 groups including the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, is planning a major weekend of mobilization in Washington, D.C.  for January 26-29, 2007.

During a similar weekend in 2005, BPF took the lead to bring together a Buddhist Peace Delegation. Once again, we invite Buddhists and friends from all spiritual traditions to come together and manifest the change we are seeking in the world.

Join our contingent of peacemakers, inspired by the way of peace taught by Thich Nhat Hanh, Joanna Macy, H.H. the Dalai Lama, and many others. Our intention is to contribute a compassionate voice for peace, and to offer a spiritual refuge for those attending the weekend. We will be collaborating with our friends from the Network of Spiritual Progressives in this effort.

We especially encourage families with children and young people to join the Delegation for any or all of the weekend events!

The Buddhist Peace Delegation is comprised of members of:

Please continue to visit this website as new information is added during the coming weeks.

For more information: please contact peacework@bpf.org. Please indicate if you'd like to receive regular email updates on the Buddhist Peace Delegation.

BPF needs your help to continue offering a voice for wisdom and compassion!

Please click here to make a donation to help us cover the costs for this weekend,
and to support our on-going work for peace and justice

Schedule of Buddhist Peace Delegation Events

Fri, Jan 26          "Peace in Our Hearts, Peace in the World:" A Meditation and Teach-In

with Bhante Suhita Dharma and David Loy

Time: 7 - 9:30 pm

Location: Foundry United Methodist Church, 1500 16th St. NW (at P St, near the DuPont Circle Station on the Red Line)

During this evening pf dharma practice, study, and community building, we’ll learn how the three poisons (greed, anger, delusion) manifest on a social and political level, and how we can respond.

Bhante is a pastoral social worker who emphasizes service to homeless people, prisoners, and others in need. He has been a monk over 40 years and has acted as a bridge between many cultures in the world.

David is the author of The Great Awakening: A Buddhist Social Theory, and teaches at Xavier University in Cincinnati. Children and young people will have an opportunity to help make posters for the Saturday march.

Sat, Jan 27        Interfaith Service, Peace March, and Post-March Gathering

9am
Preparing Ourselves for Peace Work: An Interfaith Service

Organized by the Network of Spiritual Progressives
The Lutheran Church of the Reformation
212 East Capitol Street, NE Washington D.C.
Directions to the church are at: http://www.reformationdc.org/ctg.htm

Bhante Suhita Dharma will offer a guided meditation at this service, Rabbi Michael Lerner will speak. Please look for the Buddhist Peace Delegation/BPF banners so we can sit together at this service.

10:30am
Those of us attending as a Buddhist Peace Delegation will walk together at the conclusion of the Interfaith Service to the UFPJ Rally.

11am
The United for Peace and Justice rally will open with fifteen minutes of spiritual practice and celebration. Location to be announced.

12 - 12:30 pm: For those who aren't able to attend the morning activities, please assemble as a Buddhist Peace Delegation at the Northwest corner of 4th and Jefferson Streets (near the Federal Center Metro stop) -- look for the Buddhist Peace Fellowship banners. See this map of the Mall -- 4th and Jefferson is also by the Air and Space Museum and the American Indian Museum.

At approximately 1 pm, we will start walking mindfully together with tens of thousands from all over the world to call for peace in Iraq. We invite the children and young people who are present to lead our contingent.

5 pm

After the march, we’ll come together to share a meal and reflect on the day at the Burma Restaurant (740 6th St NW in DC's Chinatown). No need to RSVP -- just join us if you can!

 

Sun, Jan 28        Legislative Training Day

Location for all sessions: Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, Bethesda, MD (on METRO)   

9 a.m. - 12 noon: Issue Organizing Meetings on various topics. See complete schedule at: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3485

10:30 - 12 noon
Speaking Authentically and Listening with Compassion

sponsored by Buddhist Peace Fellowship; open to all!

Trainers: Lynd Morris, Roberta Wall, Inessa Love

This 1 1/2-hour training in Nonviolent Communication, developed by Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D., will give us the opportunity to uncover and express our own feelings and needs as well as to listen to others' expression in a way that will increase the likelihood that everyone's truth can be heard. Staying rooted in our deepest intention to dialogue, we will role play listening and speaking to lobbyists, exploring how to create social change in the world without falling into enemy images of the people with whom we are in contact.

12 noon - 4:30 p.m., Iraq briefing; State and Group Caucus Meetings. At 3:30, those of us who are staying on until Monday will meet as a Buddhist Peace Delegation to discuss our message. Location to be determined; we'll be meeting somewhere at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School.

Mon, Jan 29       Lobbying Day: A Day of Practice, Action, and Mindful Dialogue.

Time: 9 am - 5 pm

Buddhist Peace Delegation members will visit Congressional representatives to talk about options for peace in Iraq. If you would like to participate, please:

a) Register with United for Peace and Justice, and

b) Write to us at peacework@bpf.org and let us know your home town and state. (This info will help us as we plan our schedule of visits.)

More Logistics

General:

• United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) webpage

Getting There:

• UFPJ Transportation Board

• BPF's Transportation Board

Staying There:

• UFPJ Housing Board

• UFPJ List of Affordable DC Housing

Background Readings and Other Information

From the Buddhist Peace Fellowship

BPF letter to President Bush Calling for Peace in Iraq,
presented to the White House on September 24, 2005

BPF’s Guide to Civil Disobedience/Affinity Groups

Two Years Later: Why Iraq Still Matters (March 2005)

Maia Duerr, BPF Executive Director

Iraq, Abu Ghraib, and Karma (May 2004)

Alan Senauke, BPF International Liaison and Senior Advisor

BPF Statement on the Start of War in Iraq (March 2003)

7 Principles of Dharma Activism (PDF file)

Diana Winston, former Associate Director of BPF

From other organizations

Tipping Point Iraq: Talking Points (June 2005)

Phyllis Bennis, Institute for Policy Studies

Iraq Body Count

Estimates civilian casualties by carefully monitoring and cross-checking world media reports.

"Invading and Occupying Iraq: The Impact on Your State"

A series of well-designed factsheets from the National Priorities Project showing how $87 billion could be spent instead in each of the 50 United States.

"Torture, American Style"

Pamphlet from Historians Against War featuring short historical essays on the U.S. government's long complicity in human rights abuses, from Nicaragua to Vietnam to Guantanamo to Abu Ghraib